Cyprinidae

Cyprinidae is a family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family. It includes the carps, the true minnows, and relatives like the barbs and barbels. Cyprinidae is the largest and most diverse fish family and the largest vertebrate animal family in general with about 3,000 species, of which only 1,270 remain extant, divided into about 370 genera. Cyprinids range from about 12 mm in size to the 3 m giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis). By genus and species count, the family makes up more than two-thirds of the ostariophysian order Cypriniformes. The family name is derived from the Greek word ( 'carp').

Cyprinids are stomachless fish with toothless jaws. Even so, food can be effectively chewed by the gill rakers of the specialized last gill bow. These pharyngeal teeth allow the fish to make chewing motions against a chewing plate formed by a bony process of the skull. The pharyngeal teeth are unique to each species and are used by scientists to identify species. Strong pharyngeal teeth allow fish such as the common carp and ide to eat hard baits such as snails and bivalves. Hearing is a well-developed sense in the cyprinids since they have the Weberian organ, three specialized vertebral processes that transfer motion of the gas bladder to the inner ear. The vertebral processes of the Weberian organ also permit a cyprinid to detect changes in motion of the gas bladder due to atmospheric conditions or depth changes. The cyprinids are considered physostomes because the pneumatic duct is retained in adult stages and the fish are able to gulp air to fill the gas bladder, or they can dispose of excess gas to the gut. Giant barbs (Catlocarpio siamensis) are the largest members of this family.

Cyprinids are native to North America, Africa, and Eurasia. The largest known cyprinid is the giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis), which may grow up to 3 m in length and 300 kg in weight. Other very large species that can surpass 2 m are the golden mahseer (Tor putitora) and mangar (Luciobarbus esocinus). The largest North American species is the Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), which can reach up to 1.8 m in length. Conversely, many species are smaller than 5 cm. The smallest known fish is Paedocypris progenetica, reaching 10.3 mm at the longest. All fish in this family are egg-layers and most do not guard their eggs; however, a few species build nests and/or guard the eggs. The bitterlings of subfamily Acheilognathinae are notable for depositing their eggs in bivalve molluscs, where the young develop until able to fend for themselves. Cyprinids contain the first and only known example of androgenesis in a vertebrate, in the Squalius alburnoides allopolyploid complex. Most cyprinids feed mainly on invertebrates and vegetation, probably due to the lack of teeth and stomach; however, some species, like the asp, are predators that specialize in fish. Many species, such as the ide and the common rudd, prey on small fish when individuals become large enough. Even small species, such as the moderlieschen, are opportunistic predators that will eat larvae of the common frog in artificial circumstances. Some cyprinids, such as the grass carp, are specialized herbivores; others, such as the common nase, eat algae and biofilms, while others, such as the black carp, specialize in snails, and some, such as the silver carp, are specialized filter feeders. For this reason, cyprinids are often introduced as a management tool to control various factors in the aquatic environment, such as aquatic vegetation and diseases transmitted by snails. Unlike most fish species, cyprinids generally increase in abundance in eutrophic lakes. Here, they contribute towards positive feedback as they are efficient at eating the zooplankton that would otherwise graze on the algae, reducing its abundance.

Subfamily Probarbinae

Catlocarpio Probarbus

Subfamily Labeoninae

Tribe Parapsilorhynchini Diplocheilichthys Neorohita Parapsilorhynchus Longanalus Protolabeo Sinilabeo Tribe Labeonini Bangana Cirrhinus (mud carps) Decourus Gymnostomus Incisilabeo Labeo (labeos) Speolabeo Schismatorhynchos Tribe Garrini Garra Paracrossocheilus Tariqilabeo Osteochilus clade Barbichthys Crossocheilus Epalzeorhynchos Henicorhynchus Labiobarbus Lobocheilos Osteochilus Thynnichthys Semilabeo clade Ageneiogarra Altigena Cophecheilus Discogobio Hongshuia Linichthys Mekongina Paraqianlabeo Parasinilabeo Placocheilus Prolixicheilus Pseudocrossocheilus Pseudogyrinocheilus Ptychidio Qianlabeo Rectoris Semilabeo Sinigarra Sinocrossocheilus Stenorynchoacrum

Subfamily Torinae

Acapoeta Arabibarbus Barbopsis (Somalian blind barb) Carasobarbus Hypselobarbus Labeobarbus (yellowfish) Lepidopygopsis



Mesopotamichthys Naziritor (Zhobi mahseers) Neolissochilus (mahseers) Osteochilichthys Pterocapoeta Sanagia Tor (mahseers) Pterocapoeta



Subfamily Smiliogastrinae

Barbodes Barboides Caecobarbus (Congo blind barb) Chagunius Clypeobarbus Coptostomabarbus Dawkinsia Desmopuntius Eechathalakenda Enteromius Haludaria Hampala Oliotius Oreichthys



Osteobrama Pethia Prolabeo Prolabeops Pseudobarbus (redfins) Puntigrus Puntius (spotted barbs) Rohtee (Vatani rohtee) Sahyadria Striuntius Systomus Xenobarbus



Subfamily Cyprininae [incl. Barbinae]

Tribe Cyprinini Aaptosyax (giant salmon carp) Carassioides Carassius (Crucian carps and goldfish) Cyprinus (typical carps) Luciocyprinus Paraspinibarbus Parator Procypris Pseudosinocyclocheilus Sinibarbus Sinocyclocheilus (golden-line fish) Typhlobarbus Tribe Rohteichthyini Albulichthys Amblyrhynchichthys Anematichthys Balantiocheilos Barbonymus (tinfoil barbs) Cosmochilus Cyclocheilichthys Cyclocheilos Discherodontus Eirmotus Hypsibarbus Kalimantania Laocypris Mystacoleucus Parasikukia Poropuntius Puntioplites Rohteichthys Sawbwa (Sawbwa barb) Scaphognathops Sikukia Troglocyclocheilus



Tribe Acrossocheilini Acrossocheilus Folifer Onychostoma Tribe Spinibarbini Spinibarbus Spinibarbichthys Tribe Schizothoracini Aspiorhynchus Percocypris Schizopyge (snowtrouts) Schizothorax (snowtrouts) Tribe Schizopygopsini Chuanchia Diptychus Gymnocypris Gymnodiptychus Oreinus Oxygymnocypris Platypharodon Ptychobarbus Schizopygopsis (snowtrouts) Tribe Barbini Aulopyge (Dalmatian barbelgudgeon) Barbus (typical barbels and barbs) Hsianwenia Caecocypris Capoeta (khramulyas) Cyprinion Kantaka Luciobarbus Scaphiodonichthys Schizocypris (snowtrouts) Semiplotus



Subfamily Danioninae

Tribe Paedocypridini Paedocypris Tribe Sundadanionini Fangfangia Sundadanio Tribe Rasborini Amblypharyngodon (carplets) Boraras (rasboras) Brevibora Horadandia Kottelatia Pectenocypris Rasbora Rasboroides Rasbosoma (dwarf scissortail rasbora) Trigonopoma Trigonostigma Tribe Danionini Betadevario Brachydanio Celestichthys Chela Danio (danios) Danionella Devario Inlecypris Laubuka Microdevario Microrasbora



Tribe Chedrini Barilius Bengala Cabdio [Aspidoparia] Chelaethiops Engraulicypris Esomus (flying barbs) Leptocypris Luciosoma Malayochela Nematabramis Neobola Opsaridium Opsarius Raiamas Rastrineobola (silver cyprinid) Salmostoma (razorbelly minnows) Securicula Thryssocypris



Subfamily Leptobarbinae

Leptobarbus

Flame chub Hemitremia flammea, one of the chubs in the Leuciscinae)

Ide, Leuciscus idus , one of the Eurasian daces

Sailfin shiner, Notropis hypselopterus, a small and colorful shiner of the Leuciscinae

Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, a minnow related to some North American daces

Sarmarutilus rubilio, a European roach

Trigonostigma somphongsi, a rasbora, a relative of the blue danio above

Black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus: Squaliobarbinae

Subfamily Xenocypridinae [incl. Cultrinae & Squaliobarbinae]

Tribe Squaliobarbini Squaliobarbus Tribe Opsariichthyini Candidia Nipponocypris Opsariichthys Parazacco Xenocyprioides Tribe Oxygastrini Aphyocypris Araiocypris Gymnodanio Hemigrammocypris Macrochirichthys (long pectoral-fin minnow) Metzia Oxygaster Parachela Paralaubuca Rasborichthys Tribe Hypophthalmichthyini Atrilinea Ctenopharyngodon (grass carp) Elopichthys Hypophthalmichthys (bighead carps) Luciobrama Mylopharyngodon (black carp) Ochetobius



Tribe Xenocypridini Subtribe Xenocypridina Distoechodon Plagiognathops Pseudobrama Xenocypris Subtribe Cultrina Anabarilius Chanodichthys Culter Ischikauia Longiculter Megalobrama Parabramis (white Amur bream) Pogobrama Sinibrama Hemiculter clade Hainania Hemiculter (sharpbellies) Pseudohemiculter Pseudolaubuca Toxabramis



Subfamily Tincinae

Tinca

Subfamily Acheilognathinae (bitterlings)

?Acanthorhodeus (Khanka spiny bitterling) Acheilognathus Paratanakia Pseudorhodeus Rhodeus Tanakia

Subfamily Gobioninae

Hemibarbus-Squalidus clade Belligobio Hemibarbus (steeds) Squalidus Tribe Gobionini Subtribe Gobiobotiina Gobiobotia Xenophysogobio Subtribe Gobionina Gobio (typical gudgeons) Mesogobio Romanogobio Acanthogobio Subtribe Armatogobionina Abbottina (false gudgeons) Biwia ?Huigobio Microphysogobio Platysmacheilus Pseudogobio Saurogobio



Tribe Sarcocheilichthyini Coreius Coreoleuciscus (Korean splendid dace) Gnathopogon Gobiocypris Ladislavia Paracanthobrama Paraleucogobio ?Parasqualidus Pseudopungtungia Pseudorasbora Pungtungia Rhinogobio Sarcocheilichthys



Subfamily Tanichthyinae

Tanichthys

Subfamily Leuciscinae [incl. Alburninae]

Tribe Phoxinini Oreoleuciscus Phoxinus (Eurasian minnows and daces) Pseudaspius Tribe Laviniini Subtribe Chrosomina Chrosomus (typical daces) Subtribe Laviniina Eremichthys (desert dace) Gila (western chubs) Hesperoleucus (California roach) Klamathella Lavinia (hitch) Mylopharodon (hardhead) Orthodon (Sacramento blackfish) Ptychocheilus (pikeminnows) Relictus (relict dace) Siphateles Tribe Leuciscini Pachychilon clade Pachychilon Alburnoides clade Alburnoides Primitive Leuciscine clade Delminichthys Leucalburnus Notemigonus (golden shiner) Pelasgus Subtribe Leuciscina Aspiolucius (pike asp) Leuciscus (Eurasian daces) Pelecus (sabre carp) Subtribe Abramina Abramis (common bream) Acanthobrama (bleaks) Capoetobrama Mirogrex Vimba (Vimbas) Subtribe Chondrostomina Achondrostoma Alburnus (bleaks) Anaecypris Chondrostoma (typical nases) Iberochondrostoma Leucaspius (moderlieschen) Leucos Parachondrostoma Petroleuciscus (Ponto-Caspian chubs and daces) Phoxinellus Protochondrostoma (South European nase) Pseudochondrostoma Pseudophoxinus Rutilus (roaches) Sarmarutilus Scardinius (rudds) Squalius (European chubs) Telestes Tropidophoxinellus



Tribe Plagiopterini Couesius (lake chub) Hemitremia (flame chub) Lepidomeda (spinedaces) Margariscus (pearl daces) Meda (pikedace) Plagopterus (woundfin) Rhynchocypris (Eurasian minnows) Semotilus (creek chubs) †Stypodon (stumptooth minnow) Tribe Pogonichthyini Subtribe Pogonichthyina Clinostomus (redside daces) Iotichthys (least chub) Mylocheilus (peamouth) Pogonichthys (splittails) Richardsonius (redside shiners) Subtribe Exoglossina Exoglossum (cutlips minnows) Oregonichthys (Oregon chubs) Pararhinichthys (cheat minnow) Rhinichthys (riffle daces, loach minnows) Tiaroga Subtribe Campostomina Campostoma (stonerollers) Nocomis (hornyhead chubs) Subtribe Hybognathina Agosia (longfin dace) Alburnops Algansea (Mexican chubs) ?Aztecula (Aztec chub) ?Ballerus (breams) ?Blicca (silver bream) Codoma (ornate shiner) Cyprinella (satinfin shiners) Dionda (desert minnows) ?Ericymba (longjaw minnows) Erimonax Erimystax (slender chubs) †Evarra (Mexican daces) Graodus Hudsonius Hybognathus (silvery minnows) Hybopsis (bigeye chubs) ?Iberocypris ?Ladigesocypris Luxilus (highscale shiners) Lythrurus (finescale shiners) Macrhybopsis (blacktail chubs) Miniellus ?Moapa (moapa dace) Notropis (eastern shiners) Opsopoeodus (pugnose minnow) Phenacobius (suckermouth minnows) Pimephales (bluntnose minnows) Platygobio (flathead chub) Pteronotropis (flagfin shiners) ?Snyderichthys (spinedaces) Tampichthys ?Tribolodon ?Yuriria



Incertae sedis Hemigrammocypris rasborella, of uncertain relationship:Possibly related to Aphyocypris.



Acanthalburnus (bleaks) Acrocheilus (chiselmouth) Ancherythroculter Anchicyclocheilus Gibelion (catla) (some authorities consider this species to belong in the genus Catla) Cultrichthys Discocheilus Discolabeo Hemiculterella Herzensteinia



Horalabiosa Megarasbora Neobarynotus Paracrossochilus Phreatichthys (Somalian cavefish) Placogobio Scardinius (rudds) Tropidophoxinellus Typhlogarra (Iraq blind barb) Zacco

Wild capture of cyprinids by species in million tonnes, 1950–2009, as reported by the FAOBased on data sourced from the FishStat database

Food Cyprinids are highly important food fish; they are fished and farmed across Eurasia. In land-locked countries in particular, cyprinids are often the major species of fish eaten because they make the largest part of biomass in most water types except for fast-flowing rivers. In Eastern Europe, they are often prepared with traditional methods such as drying and salting. The prevalence of inexpensive frozen fish products made this less important now than it was in earlier times. Nonetheless, in certain places, they remain popular for food, as well as recreational fishing, for ornamental use, and have been deliberately stocked in ponds and lakes for centuries for this reason.

Sport Cyprinids are popular for angling especially for match fishing (due to their dominance in biomass and numbers) and fishing for common carp because of its size and strength.

As pest control Several cyprinids have been introduced to waters outside their natural ranges to provide food, sport, or biological control for some pest species. The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) are the most important of these, for example in Florida.

As a pest species Carp in particular can stir up sediment, reducing the clarity of the water and making plant growth difficult. In America and Australia, such as the Asian carp in the Mississippi Basin, they have become invasive species that compete with native fishes or disrupt the environment. Cyprinus carpio is a major pest species in Australia impacting freshwater environments, amenity, and the agricultural economy, devastating biodiversity by decimating native fish populations where they first became established as a major pest in the wild in the 1960s. In the major river system of eastern Australia, the Murray-Darling Basin, they constitute 80-90 per cent of fish biomass. In 2016 the federal government announced A$15.2 million to fund the National Carp Control Plan to investigate using Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (carp virus) as a biological control agent while minimising impacts on industry and environment should a carp virus release go ahead. Despite initial, favourable assessment, in 2020 this plan was found to be unlikely to work due to the high fecundity of the fish.

Aquarium fish Numerous cyprinids have become important in the aquarium and fishpond hobbies, most famously the goldfish, which was bred in China from the Prussian carp (Carassius (auratus) gibelio). First imported into Europe around 1728, it was much fancied by Chinese nobility as early as 1150AD and after it arrived there in 1502, also in Japan. In the latter country, from the 18th century onwards, the common carp was bred into the ornamental variety known as koi – or more accurately , as simply means "common carp" in Japanese. Other popular aquarium cyprinids include danionins, rasborines, and true barbs. Larger species are bred by the thousands in outdoor ponds, particularly in Southeast Asia, and trade in these aquarium fishes is of considerable commercial importance. The small rasborines and danionines are perhaps only rivalled by characids and poecilid livebearers in their popularity for community aquaria. One particular species of these small and undemanding danionines is the zebrafish (Danio rerio). It has become the standard model species for studying developmental genetics of vertebrates, in particular fish.

Threatened families Habitat destruction and other causes have reduced the wild stocks of several cyprinids to dangerously low levels; some are already entirely extinct. In particular, the cyprinids of the subfamily Leuciscinae from southwestern North America have been hit hard by pollution and unsustainable water use in the early to mid-20th century; most globally extinct cypriniform species are in fact leuciscinid cyprinids from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Rainbow shark, Epalzeorhynchos frenatum, a somewhat aggressive aquarium fish

Acheilognathus longipinnis: Acheilognathinae

Blue danio, Danio kerri: Danioninae

Pseudogobio esocinus , Gobioninae

Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix: Xenocyprinae, alternatively Hypophthalmichthyinae

Rohu, Labeo rohita, of the disputed Labeoninae

The tench, Tinca tinca, is of unclear affiliations and often placed in a subfamily of its own.

The 5th Edition of Fishes of the World sets out the following subfamilies:



Subfamily Acheilognathinae

Acanthorhodeus (Khanka spiny bitterling) Acheilognathus (bitterlings) Rhodeus (bitterlings) Tanakia (bitterlings)



Subfamily Alburninae

Alburnoides Alburnus (bleaks) Aspiolucius (pike asp) Metzia



Subfamily Barbinae

Acrossocheilus Anchicyclocheilus Aulopyge (Dalmatian barbelgudgeon) Balantiocheilos Barbus (typical barbels and barbs) Carasobarbus Clypeobarbus Dawkinsia Desmopuntius Diptychus Enteromius Haludaria Hsianwenia Kalimantania Luciobarbus Mesopotamichthys Neobarynotus Oliotius Oreichthys Pethia Pseudobarbus (redfins) Puntigrus Puntius (spotted barbs) Sahyadria Schizopyge (snowtrouts) Schizothorax (snowtrouts) Sinocyclocheilus (golden-line fish) Striuntius Systomus



Subfamily Cultrinae

Anabarilius Chanodichthys Culter Cultrichthys Hainania Hemiculter (sharpbellies) Ischikauia Megalobrama Parabramis (white Amur bream) Paralaubuca Pseudohemiculter Pseudolaubuca Sinibrama Toxabramis



Subfamily Cyprininae

Arabibarbus Barboides Barbonymus (tinfoil barbs) Capoeta (khramulyas) Carassioides Carassius (Crucian carps and goldfish) Cyprinus (typical carps) Eechathalakenda Gymnocypris



Subfamily Danioninae

Amblypharyngodon (carplets) Aspidoparia Barilius Betadevario Boraras (rasboras) Cabdio Chelaethiops Chela Danio (danios) Danionella Devario Esomus (flying barbs) Engraulicypris Fangfangia Horadandia Inlecypris Laubuka Leptocypris Luciosoma Malayochela Microdevario Microrasbora Nematabramis Neobola Opsaridium Opsarius Paedocypris Pectenocypris Raiamas Rasbora Rasboroides Rasbosoma (dwarf scissortail rasbora) Rastrineobola (silver cyprinid) Salmostoma (razorbelly minnows) Securicula Sundadanio Trigonopoma Trigonostigma





Subfamily Gobioninae

Abbottina (false gudgeons) Belligobio Biwia Coreius Coreoleuciscus Gnathopogon Gobio (typical gudgeons) Gobiobotia Gobiocypris Hemibarbus (steeds) Huigobio Ladislavia Mesogobio Microphysogobio Paracanthobrama Paraleucogobio Parasqualidus Platysmacheilus Pseudogobio Pseudopungtungia Pseudorasbora Pungtungia Rhinogobio Romanogobio Sarcocheilichthys Saurogobio Squalidus Xenophysogobio



Subfamily Labeoninae

Bangana Brevibora Cirrhinus (mud carps) Cophecheilus Crossocheilus Discocheilus Discogobio Discolabeo Garra Henicorhynchus Horalabiosa Hongshuia Labeo (labeos) Labeobarbus (yellowfish) Labiobarbus Longanalus Osteochilichthys Osteochilus Paraqianlabeo Parasinilabeo Placocheilus Protolabeo Pseudocrossocheilus Pseudogyrinocheilus Ptychidio Qianlabeo Rectoris Semilabeo Sinigarra Sinilabeo Sinocrossocheilus Stenorynchoacrum Tariqilabeo Vinagarra Vinalabeo



Subfamily Leptobarbinae

Leptobarbus



Flame chub Hemitremia flammea, one of the chubs in the Leuciscinae)

Ide, Leuciscus idus , one of the Eurasian daces

Sailfin shiner, Notropis hypselopterus, a small and colorful shiner of the Leuciscinae

Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, a minnow related to some North American daces

Sarmarutilus rubilio, a European roach

Subfamily Leuciscinae



Abramis (common bream) Acanthobrama (bleaks) Achondrostoma Anaecypris Acrocheilus (chiselmouth) Agosia (longfin dace) Algansea (Mexican chubs) Aztecula (Aztec chub) Ballerus (breams) Blicca (silver bream) Campostoma (stonerollers) Chondrostoma (typical nases) Chrosomus (typical daces) Clinostomus (redside daces) Codoma (ornate shiner) Coreoleuciscus (Korean splendid dace) Couesius (lake chub) Cyprinella (satinfin shiners) Delminichthys Dionda (desert minnows) Eremichthys (desert dace) Ericymba (longjaw minnows) Erimystax (slender chubs) †Evarra (Mexican daces) Exoglossum (cutlips minnows) Gila (western chubs) Hemitremia (flame chub) Hesperoleucus (California roach) Hybognathus (silvery minnows) Hybopsis (bigeye chubs) Iberochondrostoma Iberocypris Iotichthys (least chub) Kottelatia Ladigesocypris Lavinia (hitch) Lepidomeda (spinedaces) Leucalburnus Leucaspius (moderlieschen) Leuciscus (Eurasian daces) Leucos Luxilus (highscale shiners) Lythrurus (finescale shiners) Macrhybopsis (blacktail chubs) Margariscus (pearl daces) Meda (pikedace)



Moapa (moapa dace) Mylocheilus (peamouth) Mylopharodon (hardhead) Nocomis (hornyhead chubs) Notemigonus (golden shiner) Notropis (eastern shiners) Opsopoeodus (pugnose minnow) Oregonichthys (Oregon chubs) Orthodon (Sacramento blackfish) Pachychilon Parachondrostoma Pararhinichthys (cheat minnow) Pelasgus Pelecus (sabre carp) Petroleuciscus (Ponto-Caspian chubs and daces) Phenacobius (suckermouth minnows) Phoxinellus Phoxinus (Eurasian minnows and daces) Pimephales (bluntnose minnows) Plagopterus (woundfin) Platygobio (flathead chub) Pogonichthys (splittails) Protochondrostoma (South European nase) Pseudochondrostoma Pseudophoxinus Pteronotropis (flagfin shiners) Ptychocheilus (pikeminnows) Relictus (relict dace) Rhinichthys (riffle daces, loach minnows) (including Tiaroga) Rhynchocypris (Eurasian minnows) Richardsonius (redside shiners) Rutilus (roaches) Sarmarutilus Scardinius (rudds) Semotilus (creek chubs) Siphateles Snyderichthys (spinedaces) Squalius (European chubs) †Stypodon (stumptooth minnow) Tampichthys Telestes Tribolodon Tropidophoxinellus Vimba (Vimbas) Yuriria



Subfamily Tincinae

Tanichthys Tinca

Trigonostigma somphongsi, a rasbora, a relative of the blue danio above

Black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus: Squaliobarbinae





Subfamily Squaliobarbinae

Ctenopharyngodon (grass carp) Mylopharyngodon (black carp) Squaliobarbus



Subfamily Xenocyprinae

Distoechodon Hypophthalmichthys (bighead carps) Plagiognathops Pseudobrama Xenocypris



Incertae sedis Hemigrammocypris rasborella, of uncertain relationship:Possibly related to Aphyocypris.



Aaptosyax (giant salmon carp) Acanthalburnus (bleaks) Acanthogobio Acapoeta Albulichthys Amblyrhynchichthys Ancherythroculter Aphyocypris Araiocypris Aspiorhynchus Atrilinea Barbichthys Barbodes Barbopsis (Somalian blind barb) Caecobarbus (Congo blind barb) Caecocypris Candidia Capoetobrama Catlocarpio Chagunius Chuanchia Coptostomabarbus Cosmochilus Cyclocheilichthys Cyprinion Diplocheilichthys Discherodontus Eirmotus Elopichthys Epalzeorhynchos Folifer Gibelion (catla) (some authorities consider this species to belong in the genus Catla) Gymnodanio Gymnodiptychus Hampala Hemiculterella Hemigrammocypris (close to Aphyocypris?) Herzensteinia Hypselobarbus Hypsibarbus Laocypris Lepidopygopsis Linichthys Lobocheilos Longiculter Luciobrama Luciocyprinus Macrochirichthys (long pectoral-fin minnow) Megarasbora Mekongina Metzia



Mystacoleucus Naziritor (Zhobi mahseers) Neolissochilus (mahseers) Nipponocypris Ochetobius Onychostoma Opsariichthys Oreoleuciscus Osteobrama Oxygaster Oxygymnocypris Parachela Paracrossochilus Parapsilorhynchus Parasikukia Paraspinibarbus Parator Parazacco Percocypris Phreatichthys (Somalian cavefish) Placogobio Platypharodon Pogobrama Poropuntius Probarbus Procypris Prolabeo Prolabeops Pseudaspius Ptychobarbus Puntioplites Rasborichthys Rohtee (Vatani rohtee) Rohteichthys Sanagia Sawbwa (Sawbwa barb) Scaphiodonichthys Scaphognathops Scardinius (rudds) Schismatorhynchos Schizocypris (snowtrouts) Schizopygopsis (snowtrouts) Semiplotus Sikukia Spinibarbus Thryssocypris Thynnichthys Tor (mahseers) Troglocyclocheilus Tropidophoxinellus Typhlobarbus Typhlogarra (Iraq blind barb) Xenobarbus Xenocyprioides Zacco



With such a large and diverse family the taxonomy and phylogenies are always being worked on so alternative classifications are being created as new information is discovered, for example:

The massive diversity of cyprinids has so far made it difficult to resolve their phylogeny in sufficient detail to make assignment to subfamilies more than tentative in many cases. Some distinct lineages obviously exist – for example, the Cultrinae and Leuciscinae, regardless of their exact delimitation, are rather close relatives and stand apart from Cyprininaebut the overall systematics and taxonomy of the Cyprinidae remain a subject of considerable debate. A large number of genera are incertae sedis, too equivocal in their traits and/or too little-studied to permit assignment to a particular subfamily with any certainty. Part of the solution seems that the delicate rasborines are the core group, consisting of minor lineages that have not shifted far from their evolutionary niche, or have coevolved for millions of years. These are among the most basal lineages of living cyprinids. Other "rasborines" are apparently distributed across the diverse lineages of the family. The validity and circumscription of proposed subfamilies like the Labeoninae or Squaliobarbinae also remain doubtful, although the latter do appear to correspond to a distinct lineage. The sometimes-seen grouping of the large-headed carps (Hypophthalmichthyinae) with Xenocypris, though, seems quite in error. More likely, the latter are part of the Cultrinae. The entirely paraphyletic "Barbinae" and the disputed Labeoninae might be better treated as part of the Cyprininae, forming a close-knit group whose internal relationships are still little known. The small African "barbs" do not belong in Barbus sensu stricto – indeed, they are as distant from the typical barbels and the typical carps (Cyprinus) as these are from Garra (which is placed in the Labeoninae by most who accept the latter as distinct) and thus might form another as yet unnamed subfamily. However, as noted above, how various minor lineages tie into this has not yet been resolved; therefore, such a radical move, though reasonable, is probably premature. The tench (Tinca tinca), a significant food species farmed in western Eurasia in large numbers, is unusual. It is most often grouped with the Leuciscinae, but even when these were rather loosely circumscribed, it always stood apart. A cladistic analysis of DNA sequence data of the S7 ribosomal protein intron1 supports the view that it is distinct enough to constitute a monotypic subfamily. It also suggests it may be closer to the small East Asian Aphyocypris, Hemigrammocypris, and Yaoshanicus. They would have diverged roughly at the same time from cyprinids of east-central Asia, perhaps as a result of the Alpide orogeny that vastly changed the topography of that region in the late Paleogene, when their divergence presumably occurred. A DNA-based analysis of these fish places the Rasborinae as the basal lineage with the Cyprininae as a sister clade to the Leuciscinae. The subfamilies Acheilognathinae, Gobioninae, and Leuciscinae are monophyletic.